Pelosi recalls Arizona's former US Rep. Pastor at funeral

FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2013, file photo, U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor of Arizona is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington. Former U.S. Rep. Pastor, Arizona’s first Hispanic member of Congress, will be laid to rest Friday, Dec. 7, 2018. Pastor, a liberal Democrat known for his bipartisanship, died at age 75 after suffering a heart attack last week. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) (Source: Evan Vucci)

PHOENIX (AP) — Dozens of mourners on Friday bid farewell to Arizona's first Hispanic member of Congress, the former U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, who was remembered as a devoted public servant and doting family man in a ceremony that filled a large Phoenix church with laughter and sometimes tears.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi remembered Pastor on Friday as a lawmaker whose humor united people from both sides of the political aisle.

"Everything he did, he was always making it more wonderful," said Pelosi, a Democrat from California.

The service at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Phoenix began with a mariachi group singing "De Colores," a popular Spanish-language folk anthem.

Republican Sen. Jon Kyl, who served alongside Pastor as a member of Senate, said the Democrat was humble but enormously effective.

Pallbearers carry the casket of former Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor into St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church for his funeral Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, in Phoenix. Pastor was Arizona's first Hispanic member of Congress, spending 23 years in Congress before retiring in 2014. He passed away last week at the age of 75. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (Source: Ross D. Franklin)

"Let's face it: It was hard to turn Ed down." Kyl said. "Ed was always a champion for those who needed the representation the most."

Pastor was remembered especially for his hard work bringing light rail service to Phoenix, which he believed would help low-income people in the southern part of the city he represented.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., middle, and former Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Ariz., left, shake hands with another person as they arrive for the funeral of former Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, in Phoenix. Pastor was Arizona's first Hispanic member of Congress, spending 23 years in Congress before retiring in 2014. Pastor passed away last week at the age of 75. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (Source: Ross D. Franklin)

"For him, the light rail represented the opening of a new world to those who had no access," said his daughter Laura Pastor, who followed him into politics to become a member of the Phoenix City Council.

"That was my dad at his best — a roll-up-your-sleeve kind of guy who was patient, understated and always himself," she said.

Verma Pastor, middle, wife of former Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, wipes away tears outside of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church after a funeral for her husband Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, in Phoenix. Rep. Pastor was Arizona's first Hispanic member of Congress, spending 23 years in Congress before retiring in 2014. Rep. Pastor passed away last week at the age of 75. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (Source: Ross D. Franklin)

The liberal Democrat known for his bipartisanship died last week after a heart attack. He was 75.

His body lied in state at the Arizona State Capitol Sunday. Another viewing that drew thousands of mourners was held Thursday evening at church.

Verma Pastor, wife of former Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, waits outside of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church after a funeral for her husband Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, in Phoenix. Rep. Pastor was Arizona's first Hispanic member of Congress, spending 23 years in Congress before retiring in 2014. Pastor passed away last week at the age of 75. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (Source: Ross D. Franklin)

Mourners at the service on Friday included Cindy McCain, the widow of Republican Sen. John McCain, Arizona's congressional delegation, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey and retired Sen. Jeff Flake.

Pastor was born in Claypool, Arizona, a small mining town about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Phoenix. His father worked in the copper mines, and Pastor was the first in his family to graduate from college, earning a bachelor's degree in chemistry at Arizona State University.

Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, right, is joined by his wife Angela as they arrive for the funeral of former Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, in Phoenix. Pastor was Arizona's first Hispanic member of Congress, spending 23 years in Congress before retiring in 2014. Pastor passed away last week at the age of 75. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (Source: Ross D. Franklin)

Pastor taught high school chemistry in Phoenix and later earned a law degree at ASU.

He joined the staff of former Gov. Raul Castro in the 1970s and made his first foray into elected office when he successfully ran for Maricopa County supervisor in 1976, where he was the lone Democrat for 14 years, Laura Pastor said.

Pall bearers take the casket of former Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor back to the hearse after a funeral Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, in Phoenix. Pastor was Arizona's first Hispanic member of Congress, spending 23 years in Congress before retiring in 2014. Pastor passed away last week at the age of 75. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (Source: Ross D. Franklin)

Pastor was elected to Congress in 1991 and retired in 2014.

Pastor was also survived by his wife, Verma, his other daughter Yvonne, four grandchildren and a sister.

Pall bearers take the casket of former Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor back to the hearse after a funeral Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, in Phoenix. Pastor was Arizona's first Hispanic member of Congress, spending 23 years in Congress before retiring in 2014. Pastor passed away last week at the age of 75. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (Source: Ross D. Franklin)

Pastor and his wife would have celebrated 53 years of marriage later this month.

"Little did I know that when I said, 'I do,' a lifetime of adventure was about to begin," Verma Pastor said.

The hearse carrying the casket of former Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor prepares to leave St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church after his funeral Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, in Phoenix. Pastor was Arizona's first Hispanic member of Congress, spending 23 years in Congress before retiring in 2014. Pastor passed away last week at the age of 75. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (Source: Ross D. Franklin)

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